Working out and upset stomach?

Misssynth
Misssynth Posts: 179 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
It seems like whenever I try a more intensive work out than just walking I end up with an upset stomach. If I walk, no matter how many miles, I am always fine, but if it's raining I prefer to hop on my cross trainer but it always seems to upset me. A few years ago I lost 20lb (put it all back on now and more, pah) using my cross trainer for at least 30 mins a day, but now even 10 has a bad effect.
Does anyone get this, or know why this may happen and what I can do to help the situation? Is it a bit like when you push yourself too hard you can vomit?
Sorry about the unpleasent theme of this topic!! Didnt really know what to write in google =p

Replies

  • MissClara90
    MissClara90 Posts: 23
    Maybe you need to started a little slow with working, so that the organism will get used to the exercising .
  • kaydeedoubleu1
    kaydeedoubleu1 Posts: 567 Member
    do you get bloated? it could possibly be that your body is retaining water. Try upping your water intake and replenishing your body with salts. Try taking magnesium regularly also. And always have a protein based pre workout meal if you know its going to be a tough one. I get the same thing: bloating, gas, diorreah after a big workout. its awful but probably because im not fuelling my body enough and not keeping hydrated when i exercise.
  • Tacticalmedic13
    Tacticalmedic13 Posts: 26 Member
    The body can shunt blood from the stomach in stressful situations to ensure you have enough blood for major organs. It is a natural survival mechanism. Things that you can do to help with this situation is ensure you don't eat before exercising. The body will want to vomit to remove undigested food from the stomach in stressful situations. My other recommendation would be use a heart rate monitor. This would allow you to check you pulse and ensure you are not pushing yourself too hard. You can find a heart rate not to exceed that would prevent this problem. Finally, it will eventually go away. As you get stronger and more fit, the symptoms will slowly go away. You body just has to get used to doing intense exercises.
  • arrseegee
    arrseegee Posts: 575 Member
    I get the same. I've got irritable bowel syndrome and it makes (particularly) running quite difficult at times. Walking is fine but the minute my guts get shaken around with running it sets everything in motion. At least if you are on a treadmill you have easy access to a toilet, right? Some things I've tried and found helped a bit was making sure I went to the toilet before exercising, even drinking a cup or two of coffee to really get things moving so it doesn't interfere with exercising. Try changing what time of the day you are exercising, see if that helps. Also try avoiding dairy products for a couple of hours before getting on the treadmill - if I don't do that I end up with real (ly embarrassing) problems.

    Also another thing to think about is if you have suddenly started doing a lot of exercise when beforehand you may have been sedentary - I've found out on MFP that it's not just IBS sufferers who can get nasty gut symptoms when going from nothing to fairly strenuous exercise.
  • Misssynth
    Misssynth Posts: 179 Member
    arrseegee : This is really useful advice. I think I may have IBS, but a mild form if thats possible. Even when not working out certain foods (and def coffee) don't agree with me. Dairy is a big one so I avoid that mostly anyway.
    I havnt started doing really hard exercise, today was litterally 7 minutes on the cross trainer, about an hour and a half after food which was only a banana and some cherry tomatoes.
    I think it may be the IBS thing.
  • AnneGenevieveS
    AnneGenevieveS Posts: 441 Member
    If I eat too much (or eat the wrong things) before I work out, yep, I feel nauseous. Don't know if that's what's going on with you?

    Also, it is a weird phenomenon about hard core cyclists/runners and distance runners getting diarrhea or upset tummy. I heard some guy who beat a record and won the NY Marathon one year actually ran across the finish line with diarrhea running down his leg.

    Fitness magazine : solutions for upset exercise tummy
    http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/health/body/pain-relief/gut-reaction-solutions-for-exercise-related-stomach-problems/

    http://www.mayoclinic.org/runners-diarrhea/expert-answers/faq-20058107

    http://www.locallyrun.com/running/articles/display.php?articleid=15
  • Deestrong68
    Deestrong68 Posts: 119 Member
    The body can shunt blood from the stomach in stressful situations to ensure you have enough blood for major organs. It is a natural survival mechanism. Things that you can do to help with this situation is ensure you don't eat before exercising. The body will want to vomit to remove undigested food from the stomach in stressful situations. My other recommendation would be use a heart rate monitor. This would allow you to check you pulse and ensure you are not pushing yourself too hard. You can find a heart rate not to exceed that would prevent this problem. Finally, it will eventually go away. As you get stronger and more fit, the symptoms will slowly go away. You body just has to get used to doing intense exercises.

    ^ Thats exactly what my trainer told me when I had that problem. He is right it will go away, just don't eat anything heavy 3 hours before you work out to give you body time to digest, Watch your heart rate keep it under your Maximum.

    Here is a link that can help you determine you Max Heart Rate http://www.digifit.com/heartratezones/maximum-heart-rate.asp
  • AnneGenevieveS
    AnneGenevieveS Posts: 441 Member
    My guess is that it has something to do with the sympathetic nervous system's response to stress (physical or mental)... same reason I get an upset stomach if I am really nervous about something.

    It increases motility (makes your guts more wiggly, haha) when we have stress.

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